Referee's For Small Sided DDSL Games?

Hi All,

Small sided games are meant to be all about fun and teaching our kids to play soccer. Unfortunately in this day and age it seems that alot of these games have become very competitive. In Dublin two of the leagues available for clubs to enter small sided teams are the DDSL (Dublin & District Schoolboy League) and the SDFL (South Dublin Football League). Both of these league have a seven and nine aside format for teams to play in. In the SDFL, referee's are allocated to referee the small sided games like they would be at 11 aside, but in the DDSL its down to the teams on the day to referee the game between them.

We have recently heard of a Dublin club that have teams competing in both leagues at 11 aside but all of their small sided teams are in the SDFL. For next season they want to move all their 11 aside teams into the DDSL but will not move the small sided teams as there are no referee's provided for these games.

Should the DDSL introduce referee's for these games, or are have they got it spot on? After at all at this level its about having fun and learning the game or do the SDFL have it right, have our small sided games become so competitive that a league referee is required for these games?

Click on the title to post your comments in relation to this and let us know what your view is on this.....

Yours

SSI.......